Sokoto killings: Buhari promises to flush out bandits

The President, Major Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) has restated the Federal Government’s commitment to flush out banditry perpetrators and protect citizens from onslaught of all forms of criminal activities in the country.

Buhari gave the assurance on Friday when the Federal Government delegation paid a condolence visit to Governor Aminu Tambuwal over the killings of 23 travellers by suspected bandits.

This is contained in a statement by Malam Muhammad Bello, Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Publicity, on Saturday in Sokoto.

The president’s condolence message was delivered through the Head of the Federal Government delegation and National Security Adviser, retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno.

Monguno commended Tambuwal for shelving an official trip, to receive the federal government delegation at short notice.

”We are in Sokoto on a specific mission instructed by President Buhari, to condole with you and the very good people of Sokoto State as well as the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, over the unfortunate incidents that have been occurring over the last couple of weeks.

”Mr President views the occurrence as unfortunate series of developments in which very innocent lives have been lost.

“Every life of a citizen is important, it gives great concern to the president that lives are being lost in inhumane conditions.

“Mr President is conveying his profound condolence over the loss of all the citizens who have departed.

”He also wants us to express his deep sympathy as well as his determination that the perpetrators of this gruesome, wicked activities are apprehended and brought to book.

“Mr President is deeply troubled that fellow citizens had to go through this trauma. He has charged to make sure that all the relevant agencies do not rest until we are able to flush out the perpetrators of not just these last two incidents that occurred, but also previous incidents.

“Top security chiefs in the country are here, an indication that Mr President wants us to address this issue in order to provide comfort to the people of Sokoto State,” Monguno was quoted as saying in the statement.

Responding, Tambuwal said Sokoto State was in the appalling grip of bandits and kidnappers marauding and scaring the populace in recent times.

Tambuwal said the situation was exacerbated by the influx of bandits and criminals displaced by the ongoing “Operation Hadarin Daji,” to end the nefarious activities in neighboring Zamfara.

”This has left Sokoto State vulnerable to the deadly and inhuman activities of criminal elements.

”The consequences of Operation Hadarin Daji has resulted, before now and in the last four days in broad daylight attacks and kidnappings occurred in parts of Isa, Sabon Birni, Tangaza, Illela and other local government areas of the state.

“The timing of the operation might not be conducive as security agents might not have enough equipment to move and contain those that moved to Sokoto State. So the timing and way the operation was being carried out left Sokoto vulnerable,” the governor said in the statement.

According to the statement, members of the federal government delegation include: the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Usman Baba-Alkali, Chief of Defence Intelligence, Maj.-Gen. Samuel Adebayo, Director-Generals of the State Security Service, and National Intelligence Agency, Mr Yusuf Bichi and Amb. Ahmed Rufa’i, respectively.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Gov. Tambuwal had earlier confirmed 23 travellers killed when the bandits attacked and burnt their vehicle on Dec. 6, in Isa LGA of the state.

(NAN)

ACF Reacts to Killings in Kaduna

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has condemned the spate of communal clashes in Kasuwan Magani village, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

ACF in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the forum, Alh Muhammad Ibrahim Biu called upon the warring communities in Kajuru and in other states to lay down their arms and embrace dialogue in resolving their disagreements.

Biu warned communities that have lived together peacefully over the years to stop reprisal attacks.

The statement read: “Threats to our peace as one united people and a region over the years have affected our peaceful coexistence, unity, polity and socio-economic development.

“We must, therefore, come together and stop this unfortunate and condemnable carnage that does no one any good. Reprisal attacks are certainly not the best way to resolve disputes.

“We, therefore, call upon the warring communities in Kajuru and in other states to lay down their arms and embrace dialogue in resolving their disagreements.

“Leaders of the various communities should also play a greater role in ensuring that peace and harmony are restored in the affected areas."

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Abubakar Sanni should account for N500Billion. -PDP’s Candidate UmarNasko

The governorship candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP) for 2019 election in Niger State, Alhaji Umar Nasko, has accused the All Progressive Congress (APC) led administration in the state of squandering N500 billion in the last three years without anything to show for it.

Alhaji Nasko said the APC government has, between 2015 to date, collected over N500 billion in allocation and other grants from the Federation Account, but cannot point to a single project worth N5 billion in the last three years.

The governorship candidate in his various social media handles, regretted that despite the huge sums of money that has accrued to the state, the present administration has incurred a debt of N100 billion.

“N500 billion received between 2015 to date and no project worth N5 billion can be found anywhere in the state, debt profile is now N100 billion, this cannot happen with Nasko as the governor,” he said.

He pointed out that while hospitals, schools and other infrastructure are begging for attention in the state, the government expended a whole N1.990 billion to build fence around government house, a project he said has no direct bearing on the people.

He also asked the APC administration to account for over N50 billion bailout and Paris refund which he alleged had gone into private pockets.

He said the choice facing the people in 2019 is between moving forward and failed promises, adding that he would take full responsibility for governance and will not become an absentee governor.

Nasko, while lamenting the deplorable condition of roads in the state, wondered why a government that has received this huge amount of money could not fix the 84-kilometer Minna-Bida Road and the 94-kilometer Minna-Suleja Road which have claimed many lives in recent time.

“They said they promised nothing and so Niger people should not expect anything. I’m promising and I’ll keep my promise because leadership requires innovative ideas and not blame game”, he said.

He gave the assurance that if voted into office, he will eliminate the discriminations in the payment of school fees at all levels of education in the state, stressing that “I believe that every child should have equal opportunity to education regardless of tribe and ethnic nationalities.

“I will make Niger State, a state for all where everyone will have equal opportunity irrespective of zone, tribe or ethnic background”.

Nasko stated further that Welfare of civil servants will top his agenda “because they are the backbone of development, massive infrastructure, investment. Poverty reduction will also be my priority”.